The
Uplander
The Caleb Pusey House
MacQueen Hall
The official newsletter of historic Upland Borough
(Settled 1683)
Spring 2011 edition
Meeting Room Gets Major Makeover
Only close-up inspection will reveal the intricate details that
Chiaravalloti put into his early-20th century panoramic view
of Upland, as seen from the east side of Chester Creek. This
vibrant fall scene was created using a black-and-white
reproduction of a winter photograph of the same vista.
*
The recently completed wall murals shown here are the
colorful artwork of Joe Chiaravalloti, while borough council's
chairs now sit behind a new desk made by Joe 'Parker'
Ferguson. Other upgrades to MacQueen Hall's ground-floor
public meeting room include a new audio system, window
treatments, and the removal of a hallway wall that taps
into the warmth of a gas-lit brick fireplace.
*
The quaint English cottage built by the Caleb Pusey party in
1683 still sits creekside on Landingford Plantation, which
was once an isolated outpost accessed only by boat or
Indian trail, as is depicted in Chiaravalloti's rustic setting.
*
Retired Handyman/Artist Joe Chiaravalloti at work on the
first of his murals, which he started sketching and painting
on the council room wall in October 2009.
Stately Netherleigh mansion (c.1869) was once the home of
George K. Crozer, located in what is now Camp Upland, but
a fire and the subsequent razing of the gothic stone building
in 1990 left only the carriage house still standing on the site,
which is listed on the National Historical Register.
Holiday Decorating Winners
Outshine Neighbors
The winners of this holiday season's home
decorating contest were announced at borough
council's January meeting.
The judging was done by borough council members
during the week prior to Christmas. Cash prizes of
$100, $50, and $25 were handed out to the top
three holiday displays.
First place was won by Donald and Florence
Peterson at 13 Fourth St.; Second place went to
Stephen and Jennifer Cunrod at 9 Scott Ave.; Third
place was awarded to John and Jennifer Belay of
230 Eighth St.; and Honorable Mention went to
Samuel and Debbie DeBardino of 407 Ivy Lane.
In acknowledging the winners, council members
noted how difficult it was to select the three best
displays.
*
Residents Get Dinner, Lunch and Breakfast
The borough's Community Affairs Committee is
organizing events for residents that will provide food
and fun, and hopefully funding for future family fare.
A Soup and Salad Dinner from 4-7pm on Saturday,
March 5 will be this year's first CAC fundraiser.
The meal will feature homemade soups, chili, and
chicken dumplings, and is all-you-can-eat on the
second floor of MacQueen Hall.
Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and
$4 for children under 12.
A free luncheon for all Upland senior citizens will be
held at noon on Monday, March 14 at MacQueen
Hall. The St. Patrick's Day-themed meal will offer
ham and cabbage with potatoes.
On Saturday, April 23, an Easter Egg Hunt at
Bristol Lord Field (Sixth and Church streets) will be
free to all borough children. The egg hunt will start
at 9am, and features different age groups.
Following the egg hunt, MacQueen Hall will host
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny from 9:3011:30am. Tickets for the complete breakfast are $5
for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
This event is an Upland Fire Co. fundraiser, where
photos of kids with the Easter Bunny will be
available.
*
No trash or recycling will be collected
on Friday, April 22
in observance of Good Friday.
*
Historic Site Eyes May 7 Reopening
In the wake of the Oct. 1 flooding of Chester Creek,
the historic Pennock Log House, the Caleb Pusey
House, and the Pusey Museum in the old Crozer
Schoolhouse next door have been repaired and
restored for the public's enjoyment, thanks to
financial support from special donations and federal
flood insurance and ample elbow grease from a
host of volunteers from the Friends of the Caleb
Pusey House - the historic site's non-profit owner
and overseer.
On May 7, the first Saturday of the month, a
volunteer crew of workers will give the National
Historical Register site a spring cleaning during the
morning hours. Any and all volunteers are welcome
to help out.
During the afternoon, the three historic buildings will
re-open to the general public for another season of
free guided tours.
*
Firefighters Post New Record
Total 2010 activity for Upland Fire Co. added up to
395 responses, including 13 fire incidents, 153 nonfire incidents, 198 mutual aid assists, and 31 drills.
The total sets a new Upland benchmark, eclipsing
the company's 2009 record of 394 responses.
The breakdown of calls answered last year includes
228 daytime alarms and 167 at night.
Property losses amounted to $67,000 in 2010,
including $20,000 in structural damages, $21,000 in
contents, and $25,000 in vehicle damage.
*
Fire Co. $$$ Support Declining
Fire Chief Dan Smith recently reported to borough
council that financial support of the borough's lone
fire station from Upland residents and businesses
declined in 2010, and has been falling for the past
three years.
Of the 64 businesses operating within Upland
Borough, only five made a contribution to the
volunteer fire company last year, generating a 7.8
percent support rate, according to Smith.
Of the 61 apartments in the borough, only two gave
donations, for a paltry 3.3 percent contribution rate.
Homeowners responded at a rate of 22.6 percent,
while non-resident landlords gave at a rate of 16.7
percent.
Overall, only 17 percent of the community made
a donation to support the fire company in 2010.
In 2009, the support rate was 18.7 percent; in 2008,
the number was 19.4 percent; and in 2007, the
response rate was 20.9 percent.
"As you can see, we're steadily decreasing," Smith
noted.
*
Free Events Require Fundraising
Council VP Christine Peterson recently lamented
the lack of support for fundraising events, while the
borough's free family events always draw a crowd.
The borough's Community Affairs Committee
currently holds a few events each year to raise
money to finance numerous free events, including
an Easter Egg Hunt, Memorial Day Family Picnic,
Blue Rocks games for kids, Labor Day fireworks
display, and Youth Halloween & Christmas Parties.
The fundraisers are spread out, with a New Year's
Eve Party kicking off the year, a Soup & Salad
Dinner in March, a fun-filled Carnival in June, and
Spaghetti Dinner in September.
"This is what pays for all the other events we do for
the children," Peterson noted. "We especially need
participation from the families that bring their
children to all the free things."
Public Meetings and Events
Soup & Salad Fundraiser Dinner
Homemade soups, chili, chicken dumplings
All-you-can-eat at MacQueen Hall
4-7pm on Saturday, March 5
Tickets: $8 adults; $6 seniors; $4 kids under 12
Borough Council Meetings
6pm caucus; 7pm regular voting session
Tues. March 8, April 26, May 10
Upland Senior Citizens Annual
Ham & Cabbage Luncheon
noon on Monday, March 14
FREE to all Upland senior citizens
on second floor of MacQueen Hall
Annual Borough Easter Egg Hunt
9am, Saturday, April 23 at Bristol Lord Field
FREE to all residents up to age 12
Breakfast with the Easter Bunny
9:30-11:30am, April 23 at MacQueen Hall
Blue Rocks Game for youth - Aug. 12
***
Upland-Brookhaven Loop To Be Paved
Borough council recently received word from
PennDOT that postponed plans to repave Upland
Avenue and Sixth Street are on again for 2011.
Portions of these two heavily-traveled roadways
were originally scheduled for resurfacing last year,
but PennDOT decided to redirect funding to the
installation of ADA-compliant corner ramps across
the state.
According to Borough Engineer Charles Catania,
both Upland and Brookhaven residents will benefit
from the planned scope of the project, as a Ushaped loop through the two municipalities has
been designated for fresh blacktop.
Upland Avenue will be repaved from Edgmont
Avenue down to its official terminus at Sixth Street,
while Sixth Street/Brookhaven Avenue will be
resurfaced from Main Street in Upland all the way
up to Edgmont Avenue in Brookhaven.
*
The Upland Senior Citizens Club will resume
Monday morning meetings on March 7. The
weekly sessions start at 9am in MacQueen Hall.
*
Website Provides Valuable Info
Visit www.uplandboro.org to find full-length
versions of the borough newsletter, a current events
calendar, historical narratives, public health notices,
borough ordinances, council meeting minutes, live
surveillance video feeds, and photo galleries.
*
To share photos or information on the Upland
Borough website, send email to Councilwoman
Moira Crawford at [email protected]
Food Bank Offers Help
The Food Bank that operates out of the basement of
the Chapel at Upland Baptist Church is there to
benefit low-income borough residents.
The Food Bank is open for pick-ups from 9-10am
every Wednesday. Donations of non-perishable
foods can be made during the church office's
regular weekday business hours, from 9am to 1pm.
Helpful donations include canned vegetables,
meats, and potatoes; peanut butter, pasta, rice, and
cereal.
*
BULK TRASH will be collected curbside
on the last Wednesday of each month
on March 30, April 27, and May 25
***Items must be placed curbside by 6am***
*
Aston Elementary Helps
Fund Pusey House Recovery
The historic Caleb Pusey House and other historic
buildings nearby were flooded with several feet of
muddy water from Chester Creek on Oct. 1.
Although all of the antique furnishings were saved
by volunteers from the Upland Fire Co., the flood
damaged all the creekside buildings, knocking out
utility service, and causing the cancellation of the
annual Welcome Day Celebration in late October.
When Aston Elementary School 4th-grade Teacher
Vivienne Cameron read of the plight of the Pusey
House, she passed along the sad news to her
students. Cameron has led many field trips to the
National Historical Register site, as part of the
Passport to History program.
Hearing that the Pusey House needed additional
funding to recover from the flood, Cameron's fourthgrade class, Student Council, and the entire student
body rose to the occasion and held a campaign to
raise money. In December, a check for $219.54 was
sent to the Friends of the Caleb Pusey House.
"It was the process of the kids caring about a piece
of history in their community," Cameron says of the
student-driven fundraising effort.
The donation check was signed by 15 Aston
students, and was sent with a letter that stated:
"We know that it is not a ton of money, but we hope
it will help make a difference."
FCPH President Ray Peden was most appreciative
of the contribution made by both teacher and
students.
"Every year we enjoy presenting the Pusey House
story to elementary school-age children from all
over Delaware County, and it's nice to get some
positive reinforcement from members of that
audience," said Peden.
"As you can imagine, it was truly heartwarming
when we received the contribution from the
thoughtful Aston Elementary students. It is
wonderful to know that our young folks are being
introduced to community service and historic
preservation at such an early age. We want them to
know that the Friends of the Caleb Pusey house are
very grateful for their help and concern," he added.
This group of Pusey House preservationists from Aston
Elementary School includes Student Council Leader Duston
Gladfelter (left rear corner), Teacher Vivienne Cameron (right
rear corner), Miss Cameron's fourth-grade class (standing),
and members of Student Council (kneeling).
*
Ferguson became a Delco Hall of Famer in
November, when the former baseball player was
recognized for posting a batting average of .421 and
pitching his way to a 7-1 record as an Eddystone
High School senior in the 1950s. He hit .300 and
pitched two no-hitters for the Upland Cubs of the
Suburban Baseball Association, and was recruited
as a minor league player by the Dodgers.
"The funny thing about this is that, 62 years ago, I
got my first baseball award upstairs here (at
MacQueen Hall), and tonight I'm getting my last one
here," Ferguson noted with a chuckle.
Ferguson has served as Upland Borough's lead
building code official for the past 15 years. His
carpentry skills were recently applied to construction
of a new council desk in MacQueen Hall's
downstairs public meeting room.
*
Flanked by Police Chief John Easton (left) and Mayor
Michael Ciach (right), recently recognized Upland PD officers
are (from left to right): Patrolmen Brian Boyd, Dean Kemp,
Joseph Norcini, Steve Jackson, and Anthony DeLuise.
The Easter Bunny will be back by popular demand, visiting
MacQueen Hall from 9:30-11:30am on Saturday, April 23.
*
Mayor Michael Ciach congratulates Joe 'Parker' Ferguson on
his 2010 induction into the Delco Sports Hall of Fame.
Ferguson Gets Recognition
Lifetime Borough Resident Joseph Parker Ferguson
was feted at the Dec. 14 borough council meeting,
where the recent Delco Sports Hall of Fame
inductee received a formal proclamation.
*
FOP Contract Signed; Officers Saluted
In December, Borough Council unanimously
approved a five-year pact with Fraternal Order of
Police Lodge 27.
Salary increases under the contract renewal, which
spans 2011 to 2015, are 3.5% for the first three
years and 3% for the last two.
The borough also ratified an agreement to maintain
health insurance benefits for police retirees.
At the same council session, several Upland officers
were commended for recent actions above and
beyond the call of duty.
Officers Brian Boyd, Dean Kemp, Steve Jackson,
and Joseph Norcini received unit citations for their
tireless efforts in the wake of the Oct. 1 flooding of
Chester Creek.
Officer Anthony DeLuise received an FOP Award of
Valor, one of two bestowed on Delco policemen this
year, for his aggressive actions on June 29.
Giving chase to a vehicle that had fled a traffic stop,
DeLuise and Detective Michael Curran drove into an
armed robbery in progress in Chester.
As the cruiser happened upon the crime scene,
shots were fired by the thieves, wounding a Chester
cop and forcing the two Upland officers to take
cover. During the ensuing gunfight, DeLuise chased
down a fleeing perpetrator on foot and arrested him.
*
Some Snow Dos and Snow Don'ts
Recently overheard at Bristol Lord Field playground:
SEAHORSE: Didn't we just go through this, like, last year? I'm
really starting to dislike winter. It puts frost on my fins!
ZEBRA: Yeah, I know what you mean. I can't wait for spring to
get here. More than anything else, I just miss the kids!
*
Cooperation Needed From Property Owners
Borough Council is asking all residents and
businesses to help the borough provide essential
services and maintain public safety, especially in the
wake of a snowfall.
-Whenever possible, do not park in a public
street during a snowstorm. Fewer cars allows for
better plowing.
-Property owners must keep icy sidewalks treated
with rock salt or anti-skid material, such as ashes
or sawdust.
-Property address numbers must be kept visible
at all times to assist emergency responders.
Obviously, this common-sense safety law applies to
all seasons of the year.
*
Snow Requires Extra Safety On Roadways
Additional safety precautions must be taken to
survive a snow event on the highway. PennDOT
urges all motorists to observe the following safety
rules during and immediately after a snowfall:
-Before driving, always clear snow and ice from
the mirrors, front and rear windshields, hood, roof,
and tail lights of a vehicle.
-Maintain twice the normal following distance
behind other vehicles when snow is falling.
Following too close is the cause of most snowrelated crashes.
-Stay at least six car lengths behind a snow plow.
Never try to pass a snow plow, as the plow blade
is wider than the truck.
-Since windshield wash is used more frequently
during the winter, the reservoir under the hood
needs to be checked and refilled more often.
Do: Remove snow from sidewalks within 48 hours
of the end of a snowfall. By clearing snow
immediately, you will use less de-icing material.
***Please make sure that the de-icing product you
are using is environmentally safe.***
Do: Rinse and wipe your dog or cat's feet after they
walk on treated sidewalks, as prolonged exposure
to some de-icers can burn the pads on paws.
Don't: Shovel snow back into a plowed street, as
this creates a public safety hazard.
Don't: Attempt to save or block off a cleared
parking space with any type of furniture, grills, or
traffic cones. The borough will remove any spacesaving objects, as this illegal practice amounts to
obstructing a public thoroughfare.
*
New School Board Rep
Reports 'Progress'
Chester-Upland School Director Richard McClintock
was unanimously recommended by borough council
and appointed to a 14-month interim term on the
school board in November.
The energetic octogenarian now serves as the
borough's lone representative on the CUSD board.
McClintock gave council a brief summary of recent
district business at council's January meeting - the
first public update council has received from the
borough's elected CUSD rep in the last three years.
"So far, everything's been great," McClintock said of
his first two months as a school director.
In his report, McClintock addressed a letter recently
sent to the district by council Vice President
Christine Peterson. The letter asserts a lack of
training and subpar performance from the school
crossing guard at Main and Sixth Streets.
According to McClintock, the district will provide
training for the current crossing guard at that
intersection, while a district employee will now
monitor student flow to and from Main Street
Elementary School.
A letter will also be sent out to parents from the
Main Street principal, to assure families that the
safety issue is being addressed.
McClintock noted that parents and students who do
not use the painted crosswalks to cross busy Sixth
and Main Streets are part of the problem.
McClintock also reported on a $5 million loan that
the school district has secured to pay off "debt left
behind by the empowerment board." According to
McClintock, the loan will be paid off by June.
*
Unlisted Homes Should Register
To enjoy the full benefits of the borough's
information phone service, residents with unlisted
phone numbers should call the borough office to
register. The automated phone service was
instituted to keep every borough resident informed
of community events, and would be utilized in the
event of a borough-wide emergency.
*
Bell Estate May Become Soccer Complex
As the owner of the 13-acre estate of former State
Senator Clarence Bell, Widener University is
seeking financial support that would allow the
college to team up with Upland Borough to
transform the site to provide new services and
opportunities to the community.
Widener University President James Harris recently
came before borough council to discuss some of the
possibilities that could be the future of the nowvacant Bell estate.
Bell passed away in 2002, and his widow lived at
their 24th Street estate for a couple more years.
Bell's son, a PMC alum, sold the estate to Widener
a few years ago for $2 million, according to Harris.
Widener is now exploring the possibility of
converting the estate's lawns to a soccer facility for
the community, while the armory building next door
could house a charter middle-school.
Harris proposed the construction of one natural
grass soccer field, with stadium seating and
dressing rooms for players, plus two artificial turf
fields and a youth field.
Widener is hoping to have one soccer field ready for
use by this summer.
The soccer complex would be available to Widener
and Chester-Upland School District teams and for
regional tournaments, but would be open to
community youth leagues as well, said Harris.
A partnership with the Philadelphia Union pro
soccer team has already helped establish the
Chester Youth Soccer League, and expansion to
Upland could be a next step.
The estimated cost to build the field complex is $3-5
million, only a fraction of which Widener has
commitments to cover.
The US Soccer Foundation has offered $400,000 to
help fund construction of two fields. The inventor of
the Magic Jack (a hands-free cell phone adapter),
who is a Widener graduate, has also offered money
to help build soccer fields, Harris noted.
Once the US Army vacates the armory building in
November, the brick edifice could be used to
expand Widener's elementary charter school to
grades 6 through 8. The expansion is pending
approval from the C-USD board of directors, but a
charter middle school could be ready to accept
enrollment via lottery next year, according to Harris.
Even if the charter school expansion does not
happen, the armory could house the university's
Widener Cares tutoring and mentoring program, as
part of the school's community outreach effort.
Harris said that "finding funding is the next step."
Joint grant applications from the university and the
borough may be a funding source.
"This is a great time for both sides to join," council
President Edward Mitchell stated. "We've all wanted
something better in terms of educational value."
Supporters and donors would not just be helping to
finance soccer fields and a new school. The project
would be creating a new "hub for the community,"
Harris suggested.
Regulators Need Supporters
The Upland Regulators, a new Pop Warner Football
League team founded last year, is struggling to
generate enough fan and financial support to be
successful.
During its first season, the youth team posted a
winning record. According to founder/coach
Reginald Duncan, the fledging football team is now
looking for support "to make the difference between
a good season and an outstanding season."
Duncan recently told borough council that donations
are needed to provide the players with equipment,
including new red and white uniforms. Local
businesses have been solicited, but "only one or two
verbal commitments" were made, said Duncan.
Some money is raised through concession sales
during games, but most of that income goes to
paying the referees, Duncan noted.
The Regulators are comprised of youth from
Upland, Chester, Parkside, and Toby Farms. The
Upland Athletic Club pays $50 towards the
registration fee of every Upland resident.
More parental support is also needed, as only a
fraction of the team's adult backers show up for
fundraising events, such as Tag Day and special
corporate fundraisers.
"It's been tough, but I've been trying to take some of
the lemons and make lemonade," Duncan stated
with optimism.
If you want to help, call Duncan at 610-876-3539.
*
Health Officer Replaced; Re-appointments Made
Longtime Board of Health Officer Dr. Edward
McLaughlin is no longer available for public service,
so borough council has named Dr. Robert Crowell
as his replacement.
McLaughlin had held the health officer post for the
past three decades. He was thanked by council for
his exceptional service to the community.
Dr. Crowell's office is located at 4000 Edgmont
Avenue in Brookhaven.
Other council appointments for one-year terms
include Borough Engineer Charles Catania, serving
his 48th year in that position, and Borough Solicitor
Robert O'Connor, serving his 10th year in 2011.
Re-appointees include Building Inspector Joseph
Ferguson, Plumbing Inspector Thomas Kennedy,
Electrical Inspector James Skulski, Health Inspector
Cathy Warfield, and Fire Marshal David Favinger.
*
Collection Agency Gets Delinquent Taxes
The borough office has exonerated interim Tax
Collector Linda Mitchell of all delinquent 2010 taxes
and forwarded the unpaid accounts to a collection
agency.
Berkheimer Associates will now be responsible for
collecting last year's delinquent taxes.
The breakdown of overdue tax bills includes
$10,908 in borough real estate tax, $10,692 in trash
service fees, $2,750 in per capita tax, and $528 in
single per capita tax.
Regarding the annual trash collection fee, borough
council has determined that the ordinance that
mandates $135 to be paid by each household
allows the billing of each family in a multi-family
dwelling.
A total of 38 additional Upland households, that
were previously getting a free ride on trash
collection, will now be expected to pay the $135 fee
in 2011.
*
OLC Honors Upland Alum
Eugene Barr, who served 10 years as a councilman
for Upland Borough, was recently presented with a
Distinguished Graduate Award and feted by Our
Lady of Charity, the grade school from which he
graduated in 1969.
OLC has played a major role in Barr's life. He met
his wife of 31 years, Mary, at an OLC church mass.
The couple now have three children, two of whom
were baptized at OLC.
While serving as an OLC altar boy, Barr took a field
trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield, which spawned a
lifetime interest in Civil War history. He currently
serves as board chairman for the National Civil War
Museum and has lectured on the war at Gettysburg
College.
Barr is also VP of government and public affairs for
the PA Chamber of Business and Industry.
*
Historical Commission Seeks Members
Borough Council is ready to fill the seats of the
Historical Commission that was created last year.
Councilman Harold 'Ray' Peden, who is president of
the Friends of the Caleb Pusey House and the
borough's resident history expert, is hoping to be
joined by at least another half dozen commission
volunteers.
The citizens who will become charter members
of Upland's Historical Commission will have an
interest in preserving historic resources.
Residents can submit resumes to the borough
manager at MacQueen Hall, 225 Castle Ave.,
Upland PA 19015.
*
Got Critters?
If a resident encounters wildlife (such as raccoons,
rats, or possums) on their property, a call to the
borough office will put them in touch with the
borough's contracted animal control warden. The
warden will then trap and remove the wildlife from
private property and will charge the resident a
discounted price for services rendered.
*
Scouts Step Up To Build Walkway
The historic two-story Crozer Schoolhouse on Race
St. is now fully accessible, thanks to Eagle Scout-tobe Joel Temple, of Thornton, who heard about the
need for a brick walkway through his church.
The bricks that were used to build the 4-foot-wide,
L-shaped walkway were collected by the Friends of
the Pusey House. The manpower to build a stone
and sand sidewalk bed, then lay 985 bricks, was
organized by Temple. Nineteen helpers from Troop
970 worked in two shifts on Nov. 6.
Completion of the 57-foot-long sidewalk means that
the Crozer Schoolhouse and the Pusey House
Museum on the ground floor of the schoolhouse can
now be enjoyed by everyone, once public tours
resume next May.
"The Pusey House Museum has a lot of rich history
and a lot of artifacts, but wasn't accessible to
someone in a wheelchair," Temple says of his Eagle
project. "It was something that needed to be done,
and I felt like I could develop a plan and carry it out."
Eagle Scout Joel Temple (wearing striped shirt) organized
the work crew that recently built a brick walkway to the
historic Crozer Schoolhouse on Race Street.
*
Permits Protect Homeowners
Certain home repairs require building, plumbing,
and/or electrical permits, and all contractors must be
licensed. These regulations are in place to protect
residents from shoddy work done by fly-by-night
contractors.
Contact the borough office at 610-874-7317, when
in doubt as to whether a permit is needed or not.
Many jobs around the home do not require permits,
but it is better to be safe than sorry, so please call.
To keep pace with costs, permit fees for residential
and commercial projects within the borough have
increased in 2011.
The fee charged for building, mechanical, plumbing,
and electrical permits for residential work is now $50
per $1,000 of work performed. The same permits for
work done on commercial sites will cost $75 per
$1,000 of work.
The fee changes were unanimously approved by
borough council last fall. The adjusted fees more
accurately reflect the amount of time that borough
inspectors typically spend making site inspections.
*
Council Tables Proposed Shrub Ordinance
In October, Borough Council discussed amending
the borough's property maintenance ordinance to
restrict "ornamental shrubs" to four feet in height,
citing public safety, as untrimmed shrubs and
bushes can provide hiding places for criminals.
Another reason to consider restricting shrub height
was the recent issuance of citations to property
owners whose hedges presented a pedestrian
obstacle and obscured house address numbers.
With both the police and fire departments requesting
shorter shrubs, adding a height restriction to the
borough code initially seemed like a good idea. But
at council's Nov. 9 caucus session, Councilman
Harold R. Peden announced that the proposed
ordinance was being tabled.
Peden noted that he had found 18 sites that would
require enforcement of an ordinance to regulate
shrub heights. But many of those locations were not
the type of property maintenance issue that was
being targeted, he said.
"As I drove around the borough, I realized that there
was no consistent way to deal with hedges,
ornamentals, flowering shrubs, and trees," Peden
stated. "There may still be some concerns about
plants growing in front of people's houses. Those
things deserve to be considered, and it may lead to
a better ordinance or none at all."
*
Council Fetes Fire Commissioner,
As Fire Company Rebounds
Chester City Fire Commissioner Jimmy Johnson
was recently praised by Upland Borough Council for
serving as a intermediary between borough officials
and Upland Fire Co. No. 1.
Setting an example of goodwill between neighboring
communities, Johnson has been instrumental in
helping the borough and its fire company to work
together and cooperate with other fire companies
that provide assists in Upland.
Mayor Michael Ciach presented Johnson with a
token of appreciation at the Oct. 12 council session.
"Commissioner Johnson has assisted and
supported us in communicating better with our
volunteer fire company. We want to thank him for
his professionalism in helping us to get together,"
Ciach stated.
Through the spring and summer, Upland Fire Co.
volunteers were only able to muster a response to
about half of the alarms in the borough. The
average number of runners responding to alarms in
August was four, giving rise to the notion of merging
Upland's fire station with a neighboring company.
Upland Fire Chief Dan Smith gave an encouraging
report to borough council at its Nov. 9 session,
noting that the company had responded to 62 calls
(36 daytime and 26 at night) during October - the
highest monthly total for the year.
The Upland Fire Co. spent a total of 152 hours in
service in October, with an average of eight runners
per call. Many hours were logged in response to the
Oct. 1 flooding of Chester Creek.
Smith also said that three members of his company
recently completed fire training school. Steve
Kalichak, Stephanie Johnson, and Matt Doyle are all
now senior-level firefighters.
Three new volunteers joined the Upland Fire Co. in
September; three more came aboard in November,
and another pair were added in January.
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Flooding Leads To Heroics
The 5th Annual Welcome Day Celebration that was
slated for Oct. 30 on Race Street was cancelled,
due to the flooding of Chester Creek.
The epic rainfall of Oct. 1 was just the latest chapter
in the water-logged history of man versus creek at
Landingford Plantation. During the recent storm,
over 6 inches of rain fell, turning the creek into a
raging river and flooding the first floor of the historic
Pennock Log House and Caleb Pusey House.
According to Ray Peden, president of the Friends of
the Pusey House, volunteers had about an hour of
advanced warning that a flood was coming, allowing
just enough time to save the antique furnishings and
artifacts on display in the two historic homes.
Peden is grateful to members of the fire company
for responding to the pre-dawn flood when two feet
of water were swirling around the Pusey House.
"We thank the fire company for their willingness to
come out at 2:30 in the morning to help us save
300-year-old furniture," Peden said at the Oct. 12
council meeting. "They did that at significant risk to
their equipment, because they almost didn't get out,
the water was rising so fast."
The utilities in both houses were lost in the flood,
making public tours impossible until next spring.
The historic property is insured, but each building
carries a $2,000 deductible for flood claims.
Special donations to help the site recover from this
disaster are being sought. Prospective donors can
contact Peden at 610-874-5665 for information.
Elsewhere during the flood, the borough spent an
estimated $4,000 on police and public works
department overtime, including the cost to remove
tons of creek debris from the Kerlin Street bridge.
Many borough employees and firefighters worked
through the weekend to expedite the recovery.
"We had many homes and businesses flooded, but
were very fortunate that no one was injured," notes
Borough Manager Shirley Purcival. "From the very
start, it was a team effort between council, all
departments of the borough, and the Upland Fire
Co., and everyone did a great job."
*
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